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Megumi and Yuuji lay in Yuuji’s bed, both on their backs. Megumi holds a Nintendo switch above his face, playing Breath of the Wild with a level of concentration that he normally reserves for special grade curses. Beside him, Yuuji scrolls idly through his phone, controlling the music that’s pulsing through the pair of earbuds they split between them. Every now and then, Yuuji glances over at Megumi to rate his progress, but Megumi’s been trying to tame a horse for the last thirty minutes without success. Inching closer, Yuuji rests his chin on Megumi's shoulder.
“You need more stamina.” He points out unhelpfully, as Link gets bucked off again. He’d completed the game twice already, which he loves to bring up when Megumi is struggling. Megumi frowns and tries to scoot away.
“I know that, but it won’t let me soothe it fast enough.” Megumi mutters, his frustration palpable.
“I think the horse you’re on is too tough, try that one back there.” Yuuji gestures to the beyond pasture and Megumi follows his direction. Before he even gets there, though, Yuuji slaps his arm with excitement.
“Look at those two horses, dude! It’s us!” He’s grinning wildly, all teeth, his cheeks dimpled as it takes up most of his face.
“What makes them us?” Megumi looks at him with mild skepticism before looking back to the screen. A tan horse with an orange mane and a grey horse with a black mane face each other, their snouts almost touching as the sprites wander the field.
“They’re kissing!” Yuuji explains, as though it should be obvious. Megumi tries to hide the fond smile that wants to tug at his lips, instead he lets out a faux huff of exasperation.
“They’re just standing next to each other.”
“Nah, man, they’re kissing. And look that one has black hair and if you squint that one could kinda be pink.” He continues, pointing between the horses. He makes some exaggerated kissing sounds for added effect.
“You’re delusional. You think any two things next to each other ‘is us’.” Megumi rolls his eyes, using air quotes with one of his hands.
“Nuh, uh.” Yuuji gawks, half offended. Megumi huffs out a laugh.
“Yes you do, just yesterday you said your pair of chopsticks were us and then you kept smacking them together to make them ‘kiss’.”
“Well yeah, if they’re kissing, then it’s us.” Yuuji says, as though it shouldn’t need to be said. Megumi would find him annoying if he wasn’t in love with him. Ok, maybe he still finds him a little annoying.
“It’s like a soulmate thing, you see the signs in everything.” Yuuji adds, turning his attention back to his phone, scrolling mindlessly through Instagram memes.
“Are we soulmates?” Megumi asks with a hint of a bratty smile. Yuuji gasps dramatically.
“Fushiguro!” He squawks, rolling over and knocking the switch out of Megumi’s hands so he can try to wrestle his boyfriend into a headlock. Megumi scrunches his nose and kicks at him, elbowing Yuuji in his ribs.
“What the hell!? Get off! You weigh, like, 20kg more than me!” Megumi complains, grabbing ahold of Yuuji’s wrists. Yuuji cackles and straddles him in retaliation, locking their legs together so he can’t move.
“That’s because you’re tiny and you don’t eat enough. Anyways, you’ve never complained about me being on top of you before.” Yuuji wiggles his eyebrows and Megumi glares at him, throwing what little weight he has into rolling their positions, but Yuuji holds fast. He whips his arms free and pins Megumi’s wrists against the headboard, grinning down at him with glee. Megumi stops struggling.
“Congradulations, you got me. Now get off.” Megumi deadpans, his eyes narrowing as Yuuji shakes his head.
“No, admit we’re soulmates.” Yuuji orders, tightening his hold on Megumi’s wrists.
“You’re impossible.”
“Megumiiiii” Yuuji draws his name out with a whine and despite not wanting to reinforce bad behavior, Megumi relents.
“We’re soulmates.” He mumbles, rolling his eyes to make Yuuji aware of how ridiculous he thinks he’s being.
“I can’t heeaaaar yooou.” Yuuji sings, bringing his face down so their noses are touching.
“We’re soulmates, ok? Now get off!!”
Satisfied, Yuuji releases his grip and gives Megumi a quick kiss on the nose before sitting up. As soon as he’s free, Megumi nudges him with his elbow. Yuuji pulls a pained face and holds the offending area with a dramatic wail.
“You hurt me, Megumi.” He lets out a dry sob. “First you don’t think we’re two horses kissing, then you say we’re not soulmates and now you beat on me? You wound me, my love. My sweetheart. My angel-boy.”
Megumi rolls his eyes and sits up as well, wrapping his arms around Yuuji’s waist and burying his face in his neck. Yuuji smells bright, like fresh citrus, and Megumi had once described him as smelling like sunshine. More than just sunshine at this point, though. Yuuji smells like safety and comfort. He smells like home. While he’s wrapped in Yuuji, he takes a deep breath, committing it to memory.
“‘M sorry.” Megumi’s voice is muffled against his skin, but Yuuji simply chuckles.
“You’ll just have to find a way to make it up to me.” Yuuji decides devilishly. Megumi groans.
“Never a good sign.”
Ten minutes later, they’re curled up snuggling, Yuuji pressing his impossibly cold feet into Megumi’s legs - which he’d sworn not to complain about. Clinging to Megumi like he’s the only thing grounding him to earth, Yuuji gives a contented sigh and nuzzles into his chest.
“I think I could do this forever.” He murmurs into Megumi’s shirt. Megumi snorts.
“We’ve got class and training tomorrow, so unfortunately there’s a time limit.” He points out lazily. He’d given up the game in favor of cuddling, mindlessly rubbing circles into Yuuji’s back. Yuuji sighs heavily.
“I mean forever, like, big picture.” Yuuji corrects, lifting his head up to gaze into Megumi’s eyes. Megumi could get lost in his honey-brown eyes forever, just as bright and sunny as the rest of him. Warm and inviting, those doe eyes could convince him of anything. “We should get married.”
Well, almost anything.
Megumi stares at him for a moment before he huffs out a laugh, assuming that Yuuji is just being a mushy romantic again, but Yuuji stands firm.
“We’ve been dating for a couple years, you love me and I love you, and we know it’s just going to be us forever, I mean, I’ve stared into your soul.” Yuuji’s words pick up speed as his mind races around the idea, and it’s Megumi’s job to halt it before it gets out of control.
“First of all, you’re only seventeen, we’re too young.” He starts, but Yuuji is quick to cut him off.
“I turn eighteen next month!”
“Second of all, gay marriage isn’t legal.” That’s probably the biggest obstacle.
“Well, who cares if it’s legal or not. We can still do vows and rings and promise our lives to each other.”
Megumi smiles affectionately. Yuuji has always been a romantic at heart, but somehow that is the most romantic thing he’s ever said to him. Internally, Megumi melts, and he cups Yuuji’s face in his hands. His thumbs trace over the round of his cheeks, and Yuuji nuzzles into the hold. Megumi’s been full of self doubt since day one, but there’s been one thing he’s been certain of ever since Yuuji confessed to him: Yuuji is in love with him. It’s that unwavering truth that makes this plan sound a little less crazy. After all, Megumi would pick Yuuji over and over for the rest of time. And if Yuuji felt the same way, what’s really stopping them?
“Don’t you think it would kind of suck to be married to a sorcerer?” Megumi pushes back, mostly because he’s interested to see how Yuuji would argue for them. In truth, Yuuji’s planted a seed that’s taking root, and he can already visualize a future as Yuuji’s husband. Waking up next to each other every morning (as if they don’t currently do that now) and knowing that they’ll never be apart.
“Are you implying it would suck to be married to you? Be serious, Megumi.” Yuuji sits up, the excitement taking hold as his plan gains its footing in reality. Megumi hums, silently mourning the loss of having Yuuji curled up in his arms.
“Maybe I don’t want to listen to you snore for the rest of eternity.” He muses, though a smile quirks his lips. Yuuji shoots him a death glare which makes the smile grow.
“We should at least wait until you’re eighteen.” Megumi decides and Yuuji brightens, stars nearly visible in his golden eyes.
“Are you saying we’re engaged?” He asks hopefully. Megumi chuckles.
“More like engaged to be engaged.” Megumi corrects, which makes Yuuji scrunch his face, disappointed. Megumi pinches his cheek and Yuuji turns, pretending to bite his finger.
“Would you really want our engagement to be in your dorm? Lying in bed? What kind of story would that be to tell our grandchildren?” He teases, knowing Yuuji well enough to know he’d want their engagement to be something a little more grand. While Megumi would personally choose something private and intimate, he can imagine Yuuji wanting something public, in front of people. Flaunting their love and relationship in their faces for all to see. Yuuji doesn’t like hiding, he likes making sure anyone and everyone knows that they’re together.
It had been a slight point of contention when they first started dating. Megumi blushed wildly at any hint of PDA, whereas Yuuji had his hands on him at all times. They struck a quiet balance quickly enough, but Megumi still flushes at the idea of being so obvious.
“You could propose to me in a dumpster and I’d say yes.” Yuuji gushes, that wide, blinding smile that dimples his face again. Who is Megumi to deny him? His Yuuji wants to spend the rest of his life with him, and he can’t really say that it sounds like a bad idea. Megumi rolls his eyes, though quietly he appreciates the sentiment.
“I’ll keep that in mind, but I think you deserve something a little more thought out.” He pulls Yuuji back into him and the boy falls with a squeal. Yuuji hums, burrowing his face into Megumi’s chest and sliding his hands up his t-shirt. Megumi typically runs cold, but since they’d been laying in bed under a pile of blankets, his skin feels warm against his fingertips. He rubs absent minded circles into his chest.
“Fine,” Yuuji relents. “But we better get engaged soon. Maybe I’ll beat you to it and ask you when you’re least expecting it.” Megumi snorts. He’s already putting a plan together in his head, he’ll need Nobara to help him orchestrate everything. Now that it’s in his mind, he’s giddy at the thought of being married to Yuuji. They could spend lazy mornings together and do all the domestic nothings that he’s always dreamed of. Casual walks in the sun, putting up their laundry to dry in the air, maybe planting a flowerbed outside their theoretical house. He’d get to say that Yuuji’s his in every sense of the word, for the rest of their natural lives. They’d have a physical memento to let everyone else know it, so even strangers could look at them and know they belonged to each other. The more he thinks about it, the better the idea is, and his decision is made with Yuuji enveloped in his arms.
───────
Nobara took this mission more seriously than she’d ever taken any other. She did more research than Megumi had ever seen her do for any of her schoolwork, and when they arrive at the jewelry store, she has a look of determination on her face like they’re about to go to war. She makes a beeline for the display case as soon as they walk through the door and Megumi follows after her casually. They’re greeted by an older woman who offers to help if they have any questions.
“I like this one.” Nobara points through the glass at a ring that looks intricately woven together with diamonds centering each curve. Megumi scrunches his nose.
“Can you really imagine Yuuji wearing something like that? Plus, it would get all kinds of grime stuck in those crevices, he needs something practical.”
Nobara huffs.
“What about this one?” She’s looking at a band inlay with squared off diamonds, which are framed by a series of smaller diamonds. Megumi shakes his head.
“A little too flashy. I want him to wear it all the time, not just for special occasions.”
Nobara crosses her arms.
“You’re no fun, why did you even bring me if you’re just going to pick out a simple band?” She scowls and Megumi takes a moment to look a little sheepish. His ears turn red while he ducks into the collar of his shirt to keep her from seeing the delicate blush that blossoms on his cheeks. This is so embarrassing.
“I just thought you’d be better at this than me, and-” His eyes are glued to the ground, he can’t believe she’s making him say this out loud. Megumi isn’t good at this mushy stuff, that’s Yuuji’s department, but apparently this engagement means he has to talk about his feelings more openly. So he does so, begrudgingly “You’re my friend. I’d like you to be a part of the process.”
Nobara’s face splits into a grin and she grasps her heart. “Why, Megumi, I’m touched! I haven’t felt this close to you since you said we could go by our given names!” He groans and pinches the bridge of his nose. Why can’t his friends just be normal?
“Don’t make this a bigger deal than it is, I just want your opinion, that’s all.” This does little to deter her.
“Alright, best friend, I’ll make sure we pick out something perfect for Yuuji. Honestly, I think he’ll like anything. Maybe just personalize it.” She moves along the display and taps the glass at a simple band. Megumi follows her, nodding in agreement with what she’s pointed out. He glances up at the sales woman and she removes the ring from the display.
“This is a wonderful choice, 14K white gold.” She offers it to Megumi, who takes it gingerly.
“What do you mean personalize it?” He asks Nobara, turning the ring around in his hand. He’s not really sure what he’s meant to be doing, how he’s supposed to appraise a wedding ring. It has a nice weight to it, and he can imagine it around Yuuji’s finger…or what’s left of it. Well, that was the other thing he’s still considering. Yuuji’s ring finger on his left hand is gone for the most part, a sacrifice he’d made in bid to separate Megumi from Sunkuna. A visual reminder of everything he’d do for him. There wasn’t really a sly way for Megumi to gauge if he had enough of his finger to wear a ring, so he’d been toying with a few alternative ideas.
“You can engrave something in it. Dates, your names, something like that.” Nobara watches him think, and he nods along with her suggestions - a little lost in his own mind. The ring makes it feel real, he’s really going to ask Yuuji to marry him. In less than a month, they’re going to be engaged. And not long after, they’re going to be married and spend the rest of their lives together. Yuuji will carry this ring around with him for the rest of time and every time he looks at it he’ll think about Megumi. It’s all a little mushy and romantic, but a small smile quirks his lips and he turns his attention to the sales woman.
“Could you engrave the date June 15th 2018?” Megumi asks, and she nods politely, taking the ring back.
“June 15th?” Nobara repeats, curiously. Megumi’s smile is fond, nostalgic, thinking back to that day that altered his life irreversibly.
“The night me and Yuuji met.” He explains softly. Megumi glances through the display cases again. “Could you also show me the style of chains you have for a necklace?”
───────
Yuuji is typically an early riser while Megumi prefers to sleep in as long as possible, so when he wakes up to find that Megumi’s arms aren’t around him, his brow furrows in confusion. He drags himself out of bed and checks his phone for the time. 7AM. Way earlier than Megumi normally gets up. A clattering from outside the dorm room indicates that someone is in the kitchen, and putting together the clues, Yuuji follows the sound with a smirk. There’s no way he’s doing what he thinks he is.
Megumi is standing in front of the stove, cursing under his breath at the pan that crashed to the floor. He picks it up with a hiss, and accesses the situation with a scowl.
“What’re you doing?” Yuuji leans against the counter with a fond smile as Megumi abandons the pan in the sink. He grimaces when he looks at Yuuji and then nods to the rice cooker.
“I was going to make you breakfast, but all I’ve made so far is rice.” He admits defeatedly. The light turns on and he opens it, scooping out a bowl of fluffy white rice. Steam rises in the air as Megumi hands a bowl off to Yuuji, who takes it with a grateful smile. “I was going to try to make tamagoyaki, but I fucked it up pretty bad and then I dropped it on the floor so-”
“That’s fine. I can do rice for breakfast.” He’s already digging in while Megumi pokes through the drawers. Just the fact that he tried to do any cooking at all is impressive. The kitchen is typically Yuuji’s domain and Megumi helps where he’s needed. It’s a sweet enough gesture to see him behind the counters, flitting around to put together breakfast.
“I think there’s some instant miso around here…” Megumi looks up when he finds a packet. He puts on the electric kettle and gives Yuuji a sheepish look.
“Sorry, this is a shitty birthday breakfast.”
Yuuji laughs and shakes his head vehemently. “No, it’s perfect! Prepared with love!” He grins, shovelling more rice into his mouth. “And it’s not like this is the only thing we’re doing for my birthday. We’re going to Akihabara, and karaoke tonight. I feel plenty celebrated.”
He must really want this to be a special birthday if he’s starting the day off like this. Yuuji wasn’t really expecting anything big this morning considering the rest of the day they have planned. But apparently his boyfriend wants every bit of his birthday to carry some weight. Yuuji smiles as he lets the steam waft over his face. It’s the best rice he’s ever eaten.
Megumi scoffs. When the electric kettle beeps, he empties the miso packet into another bowl and pours hot water over it. He offers it to Yuuji, who takes it as if he was being offered a mouthwatering dish at a fine restaurant. He nearly burns his tongue taking the first sip.
“I wish you didn’t wake up so early, the arcades don’t open for hours. We could have stayed in bed cuddling.” Megumi complains, watching Yuuji eat with fascination. Yuuji packs away food efficiently, barely swallowing as he inhales everything like a vacuum. No wonder he could swallow whole fingers without gagging. Megumi smirks, a suggestive thought planted in his mind, and Yuuji finishes breakfast in record time.
“We can always go back to bed.” He offers with a grin that takes a seductive curl. “You can make up for the birthday breakfast.” Megumi snorts, clearing away his dishes.
“Sure, but then I want to sleep for at least a little bit. I woke up at 6:30 for this.” Yuuji laughs.
“My poor baby, we definitely need to get you back to bed.”
They spend the rest of that morning in Yuuji’s bed, and don’t make any effort to get up until 10AM, and only because Megumi insists that he needs a shower. Which of course they do together, because it’s Yuuji’s birthday after all. Forty five minutes later, Yuuji, clad in his mustard yellow hoodie and a pair of jeans that sported holes in the knees, waits impatiently outside of Megumi’s room while Megumi rustles through his dresser. In a band t-shirt that used to be Yuuji’s and a pair of black jeans, Megumi finds what he’s looking for, tucks it into his back pocket, and signals Yuuji that he’s ready to go.
Although Megumi has his learner’s permit, they take the train, their fingers interlocked between them as they watch the city zip by. They each have one earbud while Yuuji picks the music and scrolls through memes. Megumi has his eyes closed, but occasionally opens them when Yuuji nudges him to show him something on his phone. They snort over cat videos and one panel comics, and a couple times Yuuji has to explain stuff that are a little too chronically online for Megumi to find funny.
When they arrive in Akihabara, Yuuji practically sprints out of the train station, dragging Megumi along with him. Megumi had sworn to give Yuuji free reign to do whatever he wanted, for as long as he wanted (or at least until 6PM when they were under strict instruction to meet for karaoke with Nobara). Although he’s lived in Tokyo for years now, Akihabara still feels like a treat, and he’s not going to waste precious gaming time with idle walking.
“We should have brought an extra bag, I’m gonna win us so much shit!” Yuuji calls over his shoulder as they approach the arcade - the first of many. Yuuji settles in front of one of the crane games holding plushes of My Melody and Kuromi. “I know you don’t want me to say it, but they’re so us.” Yuuji grins, popping in coins to bring the claw to life. Megumi snorts. Yuuji has a talent for crane games that is almost dangerous. They never manage to walk away from them without a small pile of figures and plushes, and Yuuji never wants to stop once he’s started. It’s always “just one more!” until Megumi pulls him away.
As predicted, Yuuji manages to score a hand-sized Kuromi plush that he immediately shoves into Megumi’s hands before moving on to the next machine. Megumi blushes, as if this was the first time Yuuji has made such a gesture (as if he doesn’t have a bookshelf full of things that Yuuji has won him), and follows after him. Yuuji considers himself to be the only person in the world who expresses himself in all five love languages simultaneously, and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t shower his boyfriend with every gift imaginable.
“You shouldn’t be giving me anything, it’s your birthday.” Megumi points out, securing the plush under his arm.
“Yeah, which means you have to do what I say. And I say I’m winning you this Homura figure.” Yuuji isn’t even looking at him, too zeroed in on the boxes of anime figurines that sit stacked beneath the crane. Megumi watches him work, mildly amused as a box drops into the chute on the first try. Yuuji presents it to Megumi with pride. “By the way, Modoka and Homura are us, too.”
Megumi rolls his eyes.
He watches Yuuji win four more claw machines before he starts storing things in his shadow, trying to look annoyed instead of impressed by his boyfriend’s niche skill. The Kuromi stays out, though, and Megumi shakes it, its large head bobbling, every time Yuuji wins another prize so it looks like it’s cheering for him. Yuuji grins in his direction every time a prize falls through the chute, another prize for his boyfriend. A Kirby, a Chiikawa, three Pokemon that Megumi couldn’t name, a Pompompurin, two One Piece figures, and a machine that Yuuji swears is defective later, they move on to the second floor to play some games.
Starting on a rhythm game, Yuuji wins twice before he starts to critique Megumi’s gameplay.
“You’re too stiff.” Yuuji points out, starting the game again as a single player. He moves behind Megumi and wraps his arms around him, caging him against the machine. His hands lay on top of Megumi’s and he pushes them down on time with the music, effectively playing the game for him. Maybe it was a little pointless to teach him to play the game this way, but Yuuji is also looking for an excuse to press in close to him. Megumi is warm and his heart is beating so fast, Yuuji can almost feel it through his back.
“You’d think my reflexes would help with my rhythm.” Megumi grumbles once the game is over and achieves a new highest score. Yuuji chuckles.
“Yeah, it’d be nice if our combat skills applied to video games.” He moves onto a racing game that requires them to sit in large plastic chairs side by side. Popping in the coins, Yuuji hits the seat of the chair next to him, beckoning Megumi to sit next to him. This time, they’re more competitive, as Megumi is a much better driver than Yuuji. Yuuji takes turns too fast, veering him off course and pushing him into trees. When Megumi laps him, he stalls his car to watch his boyfriend attempt to reverse back onto the track.
“This is a little sad.” He notes with a smirk and Yuuji scoffs.
“These controls are too sensitive, there’s no way driving a real car is this hard.” He complains. Megumi laughs, about to drive off, but Yuuji grabs his wheel to crash him into a wall. Megumi scowls.
“Cheater.” He corrects his car and speeds through the finish line, celebrated with confetti and a rotating sprite of a trophy while Yuuji stays trapped in the grass. He stares awestruck at Megumi’s win. He’s so cool.
Next is a fighting game where they take turns on winning and losing.
“I feel like there isn’t any skill to this, I’m just button mashing.” Megumi admits, making Yuuji laugh. Megumi beats Yuuji in three rounds of a bomberman game, which Yuuji finally admits requires more strategy than just spamming bombs wherever he can. By the time they decide to take a break, they’ve been at it for a few hours and decide to grab a late lunch. They chat idly over bowls of ramen, and Yuuji hooks their ankles together under the table. Megumi feeds him his fishcakes and Yuuji makes slurping sounds that make Megumi fake gag. When they’re back on the street to hit the next arcade, Yuuji drags Megumi with purpose.
“I think there’s a photobooth in this one!” He explains excitedly, and Megumi internally groans. He hates taking pictures at the best of times, doing posed photographs in a box is his personal nightmare, but he doesn’t say anything to dissuade the birthday boy. Yuuji pushes him in and adjusts the curtain, skimming through frames with concentration. This is an important task, these souvenirs will follow them through their lifetime, of course.
“They have a birthday frame!” He cheers, choosing the option with an enthusiastic smack and he stands back, pulling Megumi with him, as the screen counts down. For the first photo, Megumi puts up an unenthusiastic peace sign while Yuuji mimics his pose with a massive grin. Yuuji notices Megumi’s lack of effort and squishes his face in his hands, his lips pursing in playful indignation.
“You have to smile! We’re keeping these photos forever, they have to look good!” Yuuji chides. The light flashes again, capturing the moment. Yuuji releases him, laughing. Yuuji slings an arm over Megumi’s shoulder, who isn’t able to steel his reaction (surprised and a little bashful) before the photo is taken. Blushing, Megumi tries not to hide his face in his hands while Yuuji cackles.
“I’m shit at posing in these things.” He grumbles, making Yuuji laugh harder, his head thrown back in unbridled joy. Another photo.
“We only have one left, make it count.” Yuuji goes in for another peace sign, but Megumi kisses him on the cheek at the same time, capturing a slightly flustered expression on the pink haired boy. Smooth warm lips, a soft puff of air through his nose, Yuuji is always a little startled when Megumi shows affection, regardless of how long they’ve been together. A rush of adrenaline leaves him a little loopy with a gush of affection.
Shuffling out of the booth, Yuuji drums on the wall while they wait for the photos to print.
“What’re you gonna do with your photos?” Yuuji asks, and Megumi shrugs, shoving his hands into his pocket.
“I usually keep stuff like that in my shadow. You know, important stuff I don’t want to misplace.” Yuuji’s smile turns shy under the thought that a photo strip of him and Megumi would be considered important enough to carry around always. Most people wouldn’t take Megumi to be a romantic, but it’s the little things that always make Yuuji’s heart flutter. Maybe he isn’t trying to be a sap, but that’s part of the charm.
“Yeah, I guess it’s like carrying it around in your wallet.” Yuuji offers. Megumi snorts.
“Yeah, something like that.”
The machine drops two photo strips and Yuuji bounces to grab them. He hands Megumi one of them, but Megumi still hooks his chin over Yuuji’s shoulder so they can assess them together. They look cute, candid, and Yuuji can’t help grinning at the sight of them. A stranger could take a look at these photos and see how in love they are. A natural chemistry that’s apparent even on film. True to his word, Megumi drops the strip into his shadow.
“OK, on to the gashapon machines!” Yuuji announces their next destination with gusto and Megumi chuckles as he follows behind. They never have to do too much walking, as the buildings are so squished together and packed with activities, but even still Yuuji makes sure they hold hands on the street, squeezing Megumi’s in anticipation. He only parts them when they come upon the building that’s brimming with gashapon machines, some of them nearly spilling onto the sidewalk. Megumi heads for a coin machine and inserts bill after bill, handing the coins to Yuuji like his own personal pachinko machine (if they expended money instead of balls).
“Go crazy.” He instructs, and laughs as Yuuji does just that. Yuuji flits from machine to machine, Megumi following behind him like the moon is pulled to rotate the earth. Yuuji’s favorite figures are the goofy ones, and soon he has a little collection of strange miniature items and animal hybrids. Occasionally, Yuuji shows them off to Megumi and makes them kiss his cheek with a loud smooching sound. Megumi watches him, entertained, but casually points to one of the machines on the ground.
“Do you want one of the puddings that has a human face?”
“Ooh yeah!” Yuuji hands him 200 yen and turns his attention to a machine filled with miniature potted plants. Megumi inserts the money, twists the nob, and hands Yuuji the yellow capsule. Yuuji feels around for it and pulls a bit of a face. It’s lighter than he expected, and it doesn’t feel like the figure is taking up much space.
“Weird, there’s no tape on this one.” He notes, opening it to reveal a ring on a silver chain. For a moment, he just stares at it, his mind unable to compute why there wasn’t a little figure in the capsule. Is this a mistake? Did Megumi use the wrong machine? He looks down at Megumi, who is still kneeling before the machine, his eyes averted away, blushing so hard that it’s reaching down his neck past his collar. Is this what he thinks it is? He knew the proposal was coming, they’d talked about it already, but now? In the middle of a room full of gashapon? Yuuji’s heart is racing, his mind slowly catching up with reality, but they’re both frozen. When Yuuji still says nothing, his mouth slightly agape, Megumi clears his throat.
“Itadori Yuuji, will you-”
“Yes!” Yuuji breaks out of his trance and throws himself onto Megumi, knocking them both over so they’re splayed on the ground. A couple of people nearby stare, but neither of them are paying attention to anyone outside their bubble. It’s just them in this carved out building, just Yuuji’s honey brown eyes gazing into Megumi’s specific shade of emerald. Yuuji is grinning wildly, carefully removing the ring from the capsule. He holds it tight in his fist and immediately starts pressing kisses into Megumi’s face. Megumi is fighting his own smile, the blush reaching up to his ears.
“How did you-?”
“I’ve been carrying it with me all day. Here’s the actual capsule if you really wanted the pudding.” Megumi offers, but Yuuji pushes it away in favor of smothering his boyfriend - scratch that - fiancé in a hug. They stay like that for an embarrassing amount of time, Yuuji burying his face in Megumi’s neck and pressing kisses into every inch of skin he can possibly reach, before Megumi pats his back.
“I think it’s time to get off me, Yuuji.” He says gently, and Yuuji groans in protest, but stands up, offering Megumi his hand to help him to his feet. Yuuji can’t wipe the smile off his face, his cheeks dimpling under the pull. He bounces on the balls of his feet, fumbling to undo the clasp of the chain until Megumi takes over, fastening it behind his neck.
“I figured this worked better than you having to wear it on your finger…” His eyes still shy away from meeting Yuuji’s. Megumi always kissed the scars where Yuuji’s fingers used to be, silently trying to wash away the painful memories they carried. Yuuji hadn’t considered that he wouldn’t be able to wear their ring normally, but of course his ever dutiful Megumi did.
Yuuji finds this whole thing adorable, especially since Megumi has never been one to draw attention to himself. How long did he have to build up the courage to pull this move? How long did he have to psych himself up to deal with the embarrassment of a public proposal? His sweet Megumi, putting aside his own discomforts for a proposal that Yuuji would cherish forever. Though Yuuji was serious when he said he could have been proposed to in a dumpster and he’d say yes. Megumi didn’t have to make a spectacle out of asking for his hand in marriage. All the same, this would make a great story to gush about anytime someone asked (and maybe even if they don’t).
Yuuji inspects the ring once it’s secured around his neck, the inside inscription makes his heart clench. He chews on his lower lip and his eyes prickle at the sentiment of it all. He’s not going to cry in the middle of Akihabara over a beautiful ring the love of his life put so much thought into. Ok, maybe he’ll cry just a little.
“June 15th.” He reads aloud and looks at Megumi, his eyes glossy. Megumi nods, rubbing the back of his neck thoughtfully. However, he looks up just in time to see a tear trickle down Yuuji’s cheek. His hands cup Yuuji’s face and his thumb catches the tear. He kisses it away while Yuuji giggles.
“Don’t cry.” He whispers against his skin.
“Don’t worry, it’s happy tears.” Yuuji assures him, his smile softening.
“Is this the only reason you wanted to come to Akihabara today?” Yuuji asks, already toying with the ring.
“Uh, yeah…” Megumi admits shyly. “Is that ok?”
Yuuji nods aggressively. “Yeah, obviously! This is literally the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten!” He smashes Megumi into another hug, burrowing into Megumi’s neck. He’s greeted with the scent of pine and jasmine, and he nuzzles into it as if it might rub off on him and he’d smell like Megumi for the rest of the day. His Megumi. The one who wants to be with him for life.
“You’re crushing my bones.” Megumi complains, but Yuuji doesn’t listen, he just peppers kisses all over his face until Megumi lets out a groan and Yuuji finally releases him. They agree to abandon the goshapon in favor of getting dessert, holding hands as they wade through the crowded streets, until they’re soon tucked away in a quiet booth, a plate of thick matcha pancakes between them. Beneath the table, their ankles are linked, and above the table, they’re holding hands, Megumi casually brushing his thumb over Yuuji’s knuckles.
“I can’t wait to tell everyone tonight!” Yuuji can barely sit still, his smile now dazed as the reality sets in. Now that they can talk and plan and think about a future for themselves. Of course, they’d always talked about it before, but now it seemed so real. Now there was physical proof that it was happening. Yuuji can’t help his affectionate gaze or the way he sighs contentedly every time his free hand reaches up to fiddle with the ring.
“Wait, does anyone know you were going to propose today?” Yuuji amends, drumming his fingers. Megumi plucks a strawberry off the pancakes.
“Just Nobara. She helped me pick out the ring.”
“That sneaky brat, I can’t believe she didn’t tell me anything!” Yuuji’s brow crinkles in mock anger. He’s going to have to flick her on the forehead for this. Megumi snorts.
“I swore her to secrecy, practically a binding vow. She knew I’d kill her if she told you.” He chews on the strawberry and lets his eyes fall to where the ring hangs from Yuuji’s neck. It immediately draws a smile to his face. Yuuji catches the stare and beams. They’re both riding a high they probably won’t come down from any time soon.
“I bet she was mad we’re getting engaged before she even got herself a girlfriend.” Yuuji laughs and Megumi shrugs to himself, fighting a wider smile. He’s still impossibly red from the proposal, and Yuuji begins to wonder if this is just how he’s going to look now. They’ll say their vows while Megumi blushes fiercely and struggles to make eye contact. Yuuji wouldn’t mind that.
“No, but she said she’s calling dibs on best man, or best woman, or whatever.”
“Yeah, of course. She’s gotta be up there with us through the whole thing.
Megumi looks up and locks his eyes with Yuuji’s. It’s a fond stare off, one that makes Yuuji blush under the weight of his gaze. He’s the first to tear away his eyes. Ok, maybe Yuuji is just as bad as Megumi is when it comes to being bashful. It’s just all so much, an overwhelming amount of emotion. Affection, excitement, longing. It all mixes up in Yuuji’s gut and he doesn’t know if it’s a good or bad ache, but he’s not nearly as hungry as he thought he was.
“About the wedding…” Megumi starts, his eyes falling to their joined hands. He breaks their contact briefly to trace over the scarred remains of Yuuji’s ring finger and pinkie.
“What about it?” Yuuji starts to dig into the food, matcha drizzle somehow getting on his fingers already. Regardless of that funny feeling and his lack of appetite, he wasn’t going to waste their pancakes.
“I don’t want to rush you or anything, but I was thinking we could do it soon. Kind of informal and just with friends. Since it won’t be legal either way.” Megumi moves to grip Yuuji’s hand again, squeezing it. He’s nervous, Yuuji notes, but he doesn't know why. Yuuji hadn’t really thought of the wedding in any specific terms, only that he wants to marry Megumi, make him his, and then they ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.
“I honestly don’t care how we get married.” He admits, mouth full of food. Megumi shoots him a disgusted look, and he has the decency to look apologetic, swallowing before he speaks again. “I just want to marry you, we can do it anywhere, it doesn’t matter. I think just our friends makes sense. We don’t exactly have family outside of them.”
Megumi nods, suddenly looking a little sullen at the reminder. It’s been a little over two years since the battle at Shinjuku, but they hadn’t fully healed from it. They hadn’t completely mourned all that they lost. Megumi still clutches Yuuji at night when the nightmares are bad, he still wakes up in tears when the memories are too intense. Yuuji comforts him to the best of his abilities, but he doesn’t know what it’s like to be the hands that killed your family. He can only whisper that everything is ok and that nothing is his fault. He can see Megumi dwelling on it now, thoughts that typically only haunt him at night, and Yuuji’s smile evaporates. A lingering guilt tells him he fucked up.
“We’ll be each other’s family soon enough.” Yuuji whispers, his tone confident, firm. Megumi may not have Gojo or Tsumiki, but he has him. And sure, maybe that’s a little scary because it’s just another person that he can lose, another person who could tear out his heart in a single moment, but that’s the curse of love. And it’s a curse that neither one of them fought particularly hard once their feelings were revealed. Megumi relaxes visibly and squeezes Yuuji’s hand again.
“We can do it after we graduate. Maybe the day of graduation.” Megumi suggests. Yuuji’s eyebrows shoot up.
“That’s in five days.” Yuuji points out, but Megumi just shrugs.
“Why wait?” He smirks, which makes Yuuji break out in another grin. And here he thought that he was the one who was eager to be married. Apparently once Yuuji is eighteen, all bets are off and Megumi is willing to rush down the aisle. “We’ll just have to figure out our honeymoon.”
Yuuji perks up.
“Our honeymoon!” His eyes brighten, and Megumi chuckles, finally reaching out for the pancakes to steal a bite.
“We can go wherever you want. It’ll be nice to have a break before we’re officially sorcerers who have no say over our lives anymore.” Megumi eats thoughtfully, and Yuuji can see the gears turning in his head, already planning everything out in his mind. Yuuji hasn’t been on a real proper vacation before. Just little day trips with his grandpa when he was a kid, he’s never even been on an airplane.
“Okinawa?” Yuuji suggests, hope ebbed into his voice, as if he’s concerned that Megumi might shut him down. As if Megumi has ever turned down a request from him. Megumi nods.
“Sure, I’ve never been.” He says simply, to which Yuuji throws his arms up in a quiet cheer.
He’s already conjuring up images of them splayed out on the beach under palm trees and sparkling sun. Yuuji will get to slather Megumi in sunscreen and dive into crystal waters, and their kisses will taste like sea salt and sand. A whole week just the two of them, appreciating married life in the best way possible. Megumi has been struggling to hide his smiles for the past thirty minutes, but he finally just relents and lets the smile wash over his face, his teeth visible. Yuuji can’t help looking fond. Megumi hardly ever smiles, and here he is smiling at the thought of being married to Yuuji.
They spend the rest of their time going over wedding plans. Who to invite (their seniors, Todo, and Ierei), where to have it (the Jujutsu High school grounds), and what they’d wear (their semi-formal graduation attire). Even once they finish their food, which they were picking at pretty slowly as it was, they stay in their booth and talk about what they’ll do after graduation. It was something they’d already discussed casually, but now that they’ll be married (and Yuuji would never tire of pointing that out), things are going to change slightly. Megumi still has the apartment and the ridiculous amount of money that Gojo left him, though they still discuss moving if the apartment is too fancy for their liking. Maybe into a house.
Mostly, there’s a disgusting amount of confessing about how much they love each other. How this is the first step in the rest of their adult lives. How they can’t wait to make everything official (or as official as it can be). Time moves both impossibly slow and extremely fast as they chatter about everything, Yuuji extremely animated in discussion and Megumi smiling fondly through the extremely fond topic. When Megumi notices the time, he startles.
“We’ve been sitting here for hours, we need to get to the karaoke bar.” He instructs, and they speed to the train station in record time. They’re twenty minutes late when they arrive at the bar, but when they enter the reserved room, Nobara is too busy talking to Maki to get pissed at them. Everyone is already there, the lights pulsating different colors and food spread out on a low table. They draw attention when they arrive, most of their friends standing to greet the birthday boy, but Yuuji doesn’t give them a chance to react.
“WE GOT ENGAGED” Yuuji announces loudly, holding up the ring around his neck for everyone to see. Stunned expressions are exchanged and Nobara cackles as their (former) upperclassmen take in the news. Yuuji can’t be bothered to be offended at their shock, he’s too giddy, bouncing on his feet as he clutches Megumi’s arm.
“Congradulations!” Todo erupts, smacking Yuuji roughly on the back, making him stumble. “I can’t say I approve of Megumi and his boring taste in women, but if he has good enough taste to pick you, I suppose he can’t be that bad.” Yuuji laughs sheepishly as Megumi rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. Leave it to Todo to insult Megumi while congratulating Yuuji on his engagement to him.
“Aren’t you two a little young?” Maki points out, positioning herself back on the couch between Nobara and Yuuta.
“Yeah, but who cares? What’s the point in waiting if we already know we want to spend forever together?” Yuuji slumps in next to Panda, who takes a moment to inspect the ring around his neck.
“White gold.” He comments, turning his attention to Megumi. “Not cheap.” Megumi blushes a deep red, and Yuuji covers the ring with his hand protectively.
“How do you know anything about jewelry?”
“Pandas know lots of things.” Panda explains with a shrug.
“Tuna Mayo.”
“At graduation.” Megumi answers, still burning crimson, the embarrassment of being the center of attention clear on his face. Another round of stunned faces look back at him.
“That’s so soon!” Kirara clasps her hands together, not looking the least bit put off by it. In fact, the stars in her eyes look dazzled at the prospect of something so romantic.
“Don’t get any ideas.” Hakari laughs and she scowls at him, giving him an elbow in the ribs.
“Speaking of the wedding, Yuuta - we were hoping you’d officiate it.” Yuuji grins at a startled Yuuta who offers a nervous smile.
“Why me?” He asks, glancing at the others around the room, as if to point out they had a wide variety of options to choose from.
“Well, you’re the head of the Gojo clan. Feels more official that way.” Yuuji explains, shoving Panda away as the beast tries to get a closer inspection on his ring. Panda grunts, but still seems resolved to access Megumi’s taste in jewelry. Yuuta laughs, blushing slightly at the mention of his status, but nods in agreement.
“I guess so. Alright, I’m in.”
“And what about me?” Nobara asks, her hands firmly on her hips.
“You’re going to be my best man, er, my best woman.” Megumi sits down on Yuuji’s other side, his eyes going to the unused karaoke screen, too embarrassed to see the look on her face when she’s informed of the position. Nobara squeals, bouncing in her seat.
“And Todo will be my best man.” Yuuji announces, to which Todo’s lips quiver.
“It would be my honor.” His hand clasps over his heart, tears already welling up in his eyes. Megumi winces and Yuuji links their arms together. Megumi hadn’t been able to talk him out of that one, but who better suited to be his best man than his self-proclaimed brother?
“Are you going to have a honeymoon?” Maki asks, still looking skeptical. Megumi had said she’d be the hardest to win over with the admittedly spontaneous plan, but she doesn’t look like she’s in a mood to lecture about responsibility so Yuuji counts that as a win.
“Okinawa!” Yuuji grins, to which Nobara lights up.
“Oh! No fair! Someone needs to marry me and take me to Okinawa.” She looks at Maki expectantly, which makes the woman laugh.
“Alright, alright, enough talk. We’re here for karaoke, right?” Maki stands up to grab the microphone and looks at the group. “Who’s first?”
Todo steps forward quickly, swiping the microphone out of her hands. “I will be reciting the top hits of Takada, and I expect everyone to sing along.” He all but orders, and his audience has to suppress a groan.
The night carries on as normal, Nobara and Yuuji jumping aggressively while the belt pop songs, Panda rapping so quickly it earns a genuine applause, and Toge giving his take on a ballad. They eat, they drink, and stay up way later than they probably should, but it’s a Saturday night so they can’t be too mad about the party bleeding into Sunday. By the time they finally call it quits and load up on the train, Yuuji is half asleep on Megumi’s shoulder with alcohol on his breath. The stop for Jujutsu Tech is one of the last ones, so it’s down to the original trio in the end. Nobara is using Yuuji’s lap as a pillow and Yuuji is snoring softly in Megumi’s ear. When the train slows to a stop, he almost feels bad for waking them.
“Alright, kids.” He nudges Yuuji and pats Nobara on the head. They both stir with a whine, but soon the three of them are stumbling off the train and trekking back to the high school. They only split up once they’re in the dorms, Nobara giving Yuuji a final lazy “Happy birthday and congrats” before sulking off to her room.
Yuuji is so out of it, Megumi has to change him for bed himself, and he tucks him before preparing his own night routine. Yuuji rolls onto his stomach and immediately begins to snore curling up in the blankets like a caterpillar in a cocoon. Megumi can’t help but stare at him with a smile. His sweet, drunk future husband looks like he’s straight out of Megumi's dreams despite the drool dribbling onto the sheets.
Megumi has to roll him over to make room for himself on his bed, but once he’s under the covers, Yuuji clings to him like a baby koala. Yuuji runs like a furnace, which works out well since Megumi has always run cold, and they immediately share heat in a way that lulls Megumi into a daze. He gives his fiancé (he won’t get tired of that word until Yuuji becomes his husband) a kiss on the forehead, his thumb caressing Yuuji’s cheek.
“Happy birthday, Yuuji.”
───────
Yuuji is scowling in the mirror, trying to do his tie. He’s tried five different times, and it still comes out wrong. His grandpa had taught him how to do it once, but it was so long ago that the instructions got tossed aside for more important information, like memorizing the entire script of Human Earthworm I. Nobara pokes her head into his room and narrows her eyes at him.
“You’re still not ready? Graduation is in ten minutes, Yuuji! Megumi is already waiting outside!” She strides over to him with a serious expression, her irritation palpable. Yuuji smiles sheepishly, putting his hands up to defend himself.
“It’s the tie! It has a mind of its own!” He explains with a whine, Nobara taking the reins to do it for him. She curls the tie around itself, tucking and tightening it for him with a narrowed level of concentration.
“I can’t believe you idiots are leaving me for a whole week.” She mumbles, pushing the knot up to Yuuji’s neck. Yuuji’s smile softens, wrapping his arms around her in a crushing hug once she pats the tie in place. She can be mad all she wants, but Yuuji knows she’s going to cry at the wedding. She’d already prepared a box of tissues, casually asking Maki to hold on to them while she’s in the audience. His best friend is as much of a sap as he is.
Nobara struggles against him, making a choking sound as he squeezes her.
“Aw, you’re gonna miss us!” Yuuji coos and Nobara scoffs.
“No, it just means I’ll be taking on your work load while you’re away.” She complains loudly, still wriggling in his grasp. “And let go of me, you’re going to crease my dress!”
Yuuji pulls away and grins, well aware that the tough exterior was just so she doesn’t have to admit her feelings for them, and he’ll grant her the game of pretending that they are simply friends and not the weird found family that they actually are.
“You ready?” She asks him, taking Yuuji’s hand and giving it a light squeeze. Yuuji takes a deep breath and nods, following her out the door and to the courtyard where Megumi is waiting on his phone. He looks up as the two approach and before he can even open his mouth to reprimand them for being late, Yuuji bends down on one knee in front of him. Megumi gawks.
Is this how he looked when Megumi proposed to him? Because it’s incredibly cute and Yuuji’s heart swells with an amount of affection he didn’t realize was possible. Yuuji tries to keep his expression serious, but he knows he’s ruined it with the huge dopey grin on his face. He’d warned Megumi he was going to surprise him with a proposal too, he just didn’t really admit when.
“What are you doing?” Megumi stutters, taking a quick sweep of their surroundings, for any witnesses. But it’s just the three of them, Nobara recording the evidence on her phone. While Yuuji liked making a spectacle out of things, he knew Megumi liked things small and intimate. He would have asked Nobara to sit it out if he didn’t want the surprise element.
“It’s only fair that you get a ring too, right? And I was kind of running out of time to do it, so I figured it’s better late than never.” Yuuji has an opened ringbox in his hand, the silver band nestled between velveted cushions. Nobara had helped him pick this ring out too, and he’d also sworn her to secrecy. She seemed a little overjoyed that she got to be a part of two secret proposals, and Yuuji had to hand it to her that she did an excellent job of keeping it to herself.
The ring is simple, like Yuuji’s, but the inscription on the inside is different: their names in Kanji with the date of their wedding. Since the moment he picked it out, he’d stolen secret glances of it every few minutes. He imagined it on Megumi’s long slender finger, pictured how it was going to stay on that finger for the rest of their lives. While Nobara wasn’t going to spoil it, Yuuji almost did a few times, as he had it out, gazing at it stupidly in a few close calls. He’d even tried that TikTok trend where people take a photo of an engagement ring while their partner isn’t looking, but he’d done it at night and taken a photo with the flash on. He’d had to scramble to put it away and came up with a terrible excuse about wanting to capture Megumi’s cute sleep expression. In his defense, Megumi does look cute in his sleep.
Megumi stares at him for a moment before a half smile curves his lips.
“Where’d you get the money for that?”
“I still have my grandpa’s inheritance. I had to save it for something important.” Yuuji explains, still bent on the ground. His knee is starting to hurt, but he’s still smiling like an idiot.
“Ok, yes, I’ll marry you later today.” Megumi takes the ring and puts it on his finger while Yuuji pumps his fist. “Now get up, you’re going to ruin the knees of your pants.”
Yuuji straightens himself, dusting off the knees of his pants, which Megumi correctly pointed out were now grey with dirt. Nobara scowls.
“You’re going to ruin the photos.” She complains, approaching the couple to get a better look at Yuuji’s mistake, but he’s too happy to care. She flicks him on the forehead, and he only looks a little pained as he rubs the spot where she hit him.
“I’m going to go on ahead and make sure everything’s ready. You love birds come on once you’re done making out or whatever. Just don’t take long, we’re already late.” Nobara walks off in the direction of the courtyard leaving Megumi and Yuuji alone for the first time that day. At least she hadn’t pointed out that it’s bad luck to see each other on their wedding day.
With a bit of privacy, Yuuji pulls Megumi into a kiss. Their final kiss. The next time they kiss, they’ll be husbands and then they’ll be off to the airport to celebrate their honeymoon. It’s almost too much to bear, too much to process. Giddy excitement rests in his gut, love so intense it makes his heart ache. Their fingers thread together and Yuuji gives his hand a squeeze. “Let's go graduate and get married.”